Windshield wiper



July 25, 1944. R. w. BROWN WINDSHIELD WIPER Filed Maron 1s, 1942 grvuQ/wtoo 42oY w @QowN @Wir- Patented July 2s, 1944 f WINDSHIELD WIPER Roy W. Brown, Akron, Ohio, assignor tcflhe Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 16, 1942, Serial No. 434,967

` (ol. 15 zso.4l

12 Claims.

"I'his invention' relates to windshield wipers, and more especially it relates to windshield wipers of the type that are equipped to distribute a thin nlm of suitable liquid upon a windshieldk to prevent the formation of ice thereon.

The invention is of primary utility for use on aircraft wherein clear visibility is extremely desirable. and which are exposed to extreme weather conditions.

'The chief objects of the invention are to provide for the free flowing of the liquid even at greatly reduced temperatures; and to provide in an improved manner for the useof heat as a means for facilitating the flow of the liquid. Other objects will be manifest as the description proceeds.

Of the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion of a windshield, and a Windshield wiper constituting an embodiment of the invention operatively associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a section on a larger scale, on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Figure 3 is a pian view shield wiper;

Figure 4 is a side elevation" thereof, a part being broken away and Vin section;

Figure 5 is a section, on a larger scale, on the line 5 5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a section along line 6-8, Fig. l3.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown a transparent glass windshield III mounted in yal metal frame H, and the improved windshield wiper, designated as a whole by the numeral 12, mounted in operative association therewith, said wiper being secured to a generally triangular metal plate I3 that is mounted upon the windshield frame Il, at the bottom of the latter. The windshield wiper I2 comprises an elongated metal frame or channel Il that is U-shape in transverse section, and which carries the wiping of the improved wind- Aelements as presently will be explained. The top or back of the frame I4 carries a threaded stud il upon which is secured a metal clip I3, and clamped inthe latter is the medial region of a bent rod I1, which rod extends rearwardly on opposite sides of said frame, and has its respective end portions secured in a clip Il that is swiveled at i3 on a projecting portion of the plate I3. The arrangement is such thatv the 150 frame I4 of the wiper structure may be oscillated about the swivel I9 as an axis.

sleeve is a tubular bearing bushing 22A in which an oscillatable shaft 23 is journaled, one end of said shaft being connected to the usual motor (not shown) that effects oscillation thereof,von

' hub structure on the shaft. The free end of the 15,

sweep 25 carries a shoe 29 that embraces the back and sides of the wiper frame Il and is slid- For oscillating the frame u of tnewiper, a

tubular sleeve 2l, Fis. 2 is secured in a mutable aperture in the plate i3,

able relatively thereof, the arrangement being such that oscillation of the shaft 23 will oscillate the wiper frame I4 about its axis at the swivel i 9, the'shoe 29 sliding relatively of the said frame during such oscillation. Any usual means (not shown) is lemployed for urging the free end of the sweep' 25 normally toward the windshield glass i0 to hold-the wiping elements in engagement therewith.

As is best shown in Fig. 5, the frame It has a lining of rubber composition 3| bonded, as by vulcanization, to its concave surface from one end thereof to the other', an integral part oi' said lining extending across the open end of the frame, at the end thereof that is remote from the shaft 23, and projecting beyond the open side of the frame in the form of a 11p '32, at said y end of the frame. In like manner the lining 3| extends across the opposite open end of the metal frame it and is formed with a lip 33. Formed integral with the latter and with the lining 3| is a rubber structure 3l that is disposed locally upon the exterior of the frame i3 at the end thereof, said structure comprising two flexible fingers or extensions 35, 36 that project rearwardly in the general direction of the shaft 23,V

and are formed with enlarged terminal portions 31, 38 respectively -at their free ends. Molded into the extension 35 is a pair of electrical conductor wires, designated as a, unit by the numeral 33. At their ends remote from the frame' I3 the said conductor wires are electrically connected to respective tubular metal bushings u, 4l that are moldedl into they terminal portion 31 ofi the extension 35, said bushings being disposed inaxial alignment and electrically insulated from each other. At their opposite ends each of 'the con-y ductor wires is electrically connected to a thin and mounted in said U metal plate 42, which plates are molded into the rubber frame lining 3|, at the end thereof adjacent the extensions Il, 3l, said plates 4I being dimoscd on opposite sides of the channel deilned by the frame and its lining, and being flush with the surface of said lining. The extension 3| is formed with an internal duct 4t Y that extends longitudinally thereof, one end of said duct opening into a transverse passage formed axially in the extension terminal ll. The other end of duct 43 opens into the channel in the frne I4, at the end thereof and remote vfrom the open side of said channel, as is best shown in Fig. 5.

The wiper i2 comprises two wiper elements, and each oi' the latter comprises a plurality of thin, flexible, rubber strips 45, 45 that are arranged in laterally abutting relation and held together by a marginal backing strip or holder 48 that tightly embraces one longitudinal margin thereof. Positioned'between the wiper elements is an 4l of said elements, and the wiper elements and.

interposed heating element are mounted in the rubber lined channel of the frame I4 with which they have a force iit. The wiper elements and heating element are of such length as to engage the rubber end walls of the frame, but because of the curvature of the bottom of the channel of the frame, the wiper elements do not completely iill the channel, but leave a longitudinally extending void therein as shown at 49, Fig. 5, which void constitutes a passage, and into which passage the duct 43 opens, the arrangement being such that the passage 4l may be lled with iluid, such as alcohol, that is discharged thereinto under pressure from the duct 43. From the passage 4l the alcohol is discharged onto the windshield glass i by way of a plurality of narrow and shallow grooves 50, 5U, Fig. 4, that are lormed in the metal holders 4I of the wiping elements, on zhat side of each holder that abuts a metal strip i5 of the heating element between said strips. The grooves Il extend transversely oi' each holder 4l and are spaced apart longitudinally thereof, the grooves in one holder being oifset from the grooves in the other clip. Preferably the grooves 50 are farther apart from each other at the pivot end of the wiper than at the opposite end thereof so as to obtain a substantially uniform distribution of the alcohol, notwithstanding the greater area o! glass over which the outer end of the wiper moves.

Preferably the heating element is of such width that it extends into the passage 40 and thus may be utilised for heating the alcohol therein, if desired. The heating element is energized by electrical energy conducted thereto by the conductor i wires Il. The latter are connected to the metal plates 42 in the frame i4, with which plates the holders 4l of the wiper elements are in electrical contact. the metal strips 44 of the heater elemcnt'being in electrical contact with the respective holders. The electrical circuit is completed through the strip oi electro-conductive rubber, the high resistance of which (100 to l as compared to copper) results in the heat desired,

For supplying the wiper with electrical energ! and with alcohol under pressure, the flexible cxtensions8l,8toftheframeliningareilexedor spread apart so that their terminal portions 81, Il are spaced apart at, opposite sides of the shaft 23, as best shown in Pig. 3, and thereet are attached to suitable electrical terminals and to an alcohol delivery outlet. The latter. which is shown in section in Fig. 4, comprises a tubular stem 52 that extends through the plate I8 and windshield frame'li and lssecuredin place by a nut Il on the back of the frame. At the front of said frame Il thestemis formed with an enlarged portion orilange' and mounted on the latter is a c'ollar Il that extends slightly above said ilange and has an inturned portion disposed between said nange and the platell so as to be clamped in place when the nut is tightened.

The end portion of the stem I2, in front of the frame Il. has the terminal portion 8l of the extension mounted thereon, said stem extending through the passage in said portion It. The bottom face of the latter rests upon the iiange Il of the stem and is embraced by the collar Il, the extension being secured in place by a gasket It and metal cap l1 forced alainst the upper end of portion 3l by a set screw Il that is threaded into the front end of said stem. The stem Il has an axial passage il therein, which passage opens laterally at its front end into the duct 43 of the extension Ii. A A supply'pipe (not shown) ex-v tending to a convenient source of supply of alcohol under pressure is connected to the rear end of stern 52, said supply pipe including a manually operable valve (not shown) by which alcohol is admitted to the wiper as desired.

The electrical terminals hereinbefore mentioned are shown in section in Figs. 2 and 6 and comprise an elongated metal rod or connector ll, and a tubular connecter l! of somewhat shorter length, the connectors being telescopically disposed. and separated from each other by a tubular insulator Il of dielectric material. The tubular connector l2 is covered, except for its end portions, with insulating material I4 that insulates the connector Il from the plate il on which itis seated and the trame Il through which it extends. A nut Il threaded onto the rear end of connector l! retains the assembly in the frame I i and also provides means for joining an electrical conductor I4 thereto. A nut 0l that is threaded onto the rear end of connector il, and insulated from connector t! and nut Il, provides means for Joining an electrical conductor il te connector Il, said conductors 6l, Il constituting power leads that are connected to any suitable source of electrical energy (not shown). Said power leads also include suitable switch means (not shown) i'or energixing the connectors Il, O2. The terminal portion II oi' the extension I is mounted upon the front end of the electrical terminal structure described. the arrangement being such that the bushing 4I rests against and makes electrical contact with the front end of connector t2. The front end of the nod or connector Il is threaded, and extends axially through bushings 4l, 4i in spaced relation to each, there being a nut 0I threaded onto said connector Il, which nut is received within the bushing 4l and makes eleotrical contact therewith. Thus the pair of conductor wires Il is arranged to conduct electrical energy to the heating unit of the wiper whenever it is so desired.

In operation, the shaft Il oecillates the wiper cxitvetxil the"i windshield glass Il in the usual manner.

n e, Dcr is frolen to the windshield be ned it ma! heating unit in the manner described. Ib koel mdillnddulcklybyenergilingtbe the windshield clear of snow and frost, it is only necessary to admit alcohol tothe wiper, and the latter will distribute the alcohol in the most elllcient manner. The feature of discharging the alcohol from between the two wiping units of the Awiper blade assures that the alcohol will be spread upon the glass, and that evaporation of the alco- 1 The invention provides afluid distributing del vice that does not require the use of packing glands, and which accomplishes its intended functions in an efficient and superior manner,

Modification may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, or the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l.In a windshield wiper of the character described, the combination of a frame and means for oscillating the same, a pair of wiping elements carried by said frame and extending longitudinally thereof, said frame and wiping elements v defining a passage for liquid within the frame from end to end of the latter, and a heating element carried by the frame and disposed between the two wiper elements, a portion of said heating element being exposed within said passage to heat the liquid therein, there being narrow grooves transversely of the heating element, between the latter and each wiping element, for -conducting'liquid from said passage.

2. In a windshield wiper of the character described, the combination of a metal frame and means for oscillating thefsame, a pair of parallel wiping elements carried by the frame and extending longitudinally thereof, each of said wiping elements having a metal holder strip along a margin thereof, means electrically insulating the said holder strips from the frame, and an electric heating element carried between the wiper elements and having electrical connection with the metal holders of the wiping elements'whereby said holders constitute a means for lconducting electrical energy to the heating element.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2 wherein the electrical heating element comprises electroconductive rubber.

v4:. In a windshield wiper of the character described, the combination of aframe and means for oscillating the same, a pair of parallel wiping elements carried by the frame and extending longitudinally thereof, each of said wiping elements having a metal holder along a margin thereof, a

. heating element disposed between said wiping elements and having electrical connection with the respective metal holders, and means connecting said metal holders to a source of electrlcal energy.

5. iA combination so defined in claim 4 wherein ments leach comprising rubber strips held together by a marginal metal holder, said wiper elements disposed side by side their metal holders having a force ilt in the lined channel, but not completely lling the latter so as to define a passage in the bottom of the channel extending from end to end thereof, and means for supplying liquid to said passage through an inlet at one end thereof,'the metal holders of the wiper elements being transversely, grooved to enable discharge of the liquid from said passage.

7. A combination as defined in claim 6 wherein the grooves in the holders are spaced farther apart longitudinally of the wiper at the pivoted end of the wiper than at the outer end thereof so as to assure uniformity of distribution of liquid upon a windshield being wiped notwithstanding the greater area over whichthe outer end of the wiper operates.. l

8. A combination as dened in claim 6 wherein the grooves are located in the confronting faces' of the metal holders whereby the liquid is discharged therefrom between the' two wiper elements.

9. In a windshield wiper of the character described, the combination of a frame of channel shape and means for oscillating the same, a lining. o f rubber-like insulating material in the channel, a pair. of wiper elements each comprising a plurality of rubber strips held together by a marginal metal holder, an electrical heating element disposed between the wiper elements in electrical contact -with said metal holders, the 'wiper elements and heater element having a force flt with- .in the channel, a pair of' electrical terminals 4molded into the channel lining in separated local regions thereof so as to have electrical contact with the respective holders of wiper elements therein, and means for conducting electrical energy to said terminals.

l0. A combination as defined in claim 9 wherein the last mentioned elementcomprises a pair of flexible electrical conductors that are molded into a flexible extension of the channel lining at the pivot end thereof.

11. In a windshield wiper of the character described, the combination of a frame of channel shape and means for oscillating the same, a lining of rubber within said channel and across the open ends thereof to close the latter, a pair of wiper elements mounted in the channel of the frame and defining a passage extending longitudinally of the channel in the bottom thereof, and means for conducting uid into said passage, said means comprising a flexible 4rubber ilngerconstituting an integral extension of rubber channel lining projecting beyond the frame at the pivot end thereof, said nger formed interiorly with a duct that opens into said passage.

l2. In a windshield wiper of the character described, the combination of a frame of channel shape and means for oscillating the same, a pair of wiper elements carried by said frame, an electrical heating element carried by said frame, said wiper elements and heating element defining a passage for liquid in the channel of the frame. a'nd means for conducting electrical energy to the heating element and liquid to said passage, said a duct that opens into the passage insaid channel.

ROY W. BROWN. v 

